Government Medical College, Kottayam was established in 1970 with a humble beginning. As an initial step, general medicine & surgery departments were shifted from Dist. Hospital, Kottayam to Arpookara leaving the other departments continue to function at Dist. Hospital to Medical College Hospital Gandhinagar. The main hospital has grown up and at present the bed strength is 1471 with 25 clinical departments including all speciality and super speciality with all diagnostic and therapeutic facilities.